Advanced Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

SHIFT:

Weekends (United States of America)

Seeking Breakthrough Makers
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers countless ways to change lives. Our diverse community of more than 20,000 Breakthrough Makers will inspire you to pursue passions, develop expertise, and drive innovation.
At CHOP, your experience is valued; your voice is heard; and your contributions make a difference for patients and families. Join us as we build on our promise to advance pediatric care—and your career.
CHOP’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.
We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.
A Brief Overview
The Advanced Therapeutic Recreational Specialist functions as a member of the CHOP Behavioral Health and Crisis Center healthcare team who practices at the competent to proficient level and is trained to plan, organize, and implement a comprehensive program of therapeutic recreation activities. Utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with psychiatric diagnoses illnesses and/or disabling conditions on an acute psychiatric inpatient unit, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being. Effectively and therapeutically interacts with patients, family members, and other healthcare multidisciplinary team members.
What you will do

• Clinical Excellence
• Performs appropriate and thorough evidence-based assessment and treatments on all patient populations according to patient need including provision of standardized assessment, developmentally appropriate levels, interviews, and observation; interpretation of assessment results; documentation of assessment as per policy.
• Develop plan of care, including goals and treatment in accordance with nature and severity of the psychiatric injury/illness, and results of the recreation therapy assessment, when indicated, to include functional potential, short and long-term goals, time frame.
• Modify and adjust plan of care based on patient response to treatment and/or changes in their medical status.
• Maintain written documentation of recreation therapy services rendered including documentation of initial assessment, follow-up interventions and discharge summary consistent with department policy.
• Plan and implement individual and group and individual activities, including leisure skills education, awareness and community re-entry programs as appropriate.
• Participates in discharge planning by assessing home needs, identifying community resources, and collaborating with care coordination.
• Professional Engagement
• Assist with the care and maintenance of department equipment and supplies.
• Abides by departmental policies regarding quality improvement, regulatory requirements, and data capture.
• Participates in tasks, initiatives, and/or committees that support departmental operations and/or enhances one’s professional development.
• Provides training, supervision, and feedback to volunteers and practicum students.
• May orient new hires to department and/or unit responsibilities.
• Financial Stewardship
• Serves as a financial steward by implementing cost effective programming and adheres to budget constraints.
• Steward existing and potential donors through sharing examples of impact of services, meeting donors, and collecting data.

Education Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Therapeutic Recreation Services or similar field of study. Required
• Master's Degree Therapeutic Recreation Services Preferred

Experience Qualifications

• At least two (2) years Experience with the pediatric population Required
• At least six (6) months Experience in a psychiatric setting Preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of child and adolescent growth and development (Required proficiency)
• Experience working with children and adolescents (Required proficiency)
• Ability to prioritize and complete duties in a timely and organized manner (Required proficiency)
• Ability to perform work duties independent of others. (Required proficiency)
• Perform work according to CHOP policies and procedures, professional standards of care, and applicable laws (Required proficiency)
• Ability to set goals and judge results in accordance with the highest standards. (Required proficiency)
• Understands and promotes CHOP’s mission (Required proficiency)

Licenses and Certifications

• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) - National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification - upon hire - Required

To carry out its mission, CHOP is committed to supporting the health of our patients, families, workforce, and global community. As a condition of employment, CHOP employees who work in patient care buildings or who have patient facing responsibilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive an annual influenza vaccine. Learn more.
Employees may request exemptions for valid religious and medical reasons. Start dates may be delayed until candidates are immunized or exemption requests are reviewed.
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